Why is your donation important to the New Jersey Association of Amateur Boxing important? And why does every single dollar make a difference?

This question can be easily answered if you walk into any local boxing gym in New Jersey and see the amazing levels of talent and drive that these young adults have in the ring. But if you don’t have time to see the action yourself, then we can update you on how the New Jersey Association of Amateur Boxing has grown over the past few years as a result of your donations and our youth’s hard work and determination.

One of the athletes who has benefited from the opportunities offered to the youth of New Jersey, is standout star of the year Shakur Stevenson. Just recently his lifelong dream came true when he qualified for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro at just eighteen years old. Stevenson, a Newark native who started mimicking the boxers he saw on TV when he was just two years old. Shakur has been with the New Jersey Amateur Boxing Program for eleven years.

To put things into perspective, the LBC spent over $40,000. in 2015 to support junior athletes competing in regional and national tournaments. Now with the growing amount of opportunities for our junior boxers arising including participating in the New Jersey Silver Gloves, Junior Olympic Independent Gloves, Ringside World Tournament and other tournaments where athletes are required to travel across the United States., every dollar that is donated helps.

If you are interested in donating towards the New Jersey Amateur Boxing Program and helping kids like Shakur become champions of life, please click on the Donate button above.

Congrats Khalil Coe - Most Outstanding Boxer!

A star was born last month at the 45th Chemistry Cup in Halle, Germany, when American light heavyweight Khalil Coe shocked the amateur boxing world, stopping Cuban’s multiple world champion Julio Cesar La Cruz in the opening round of the championship final match.

Nearly 100 boxers represented 16 different countries at the Chemistry Cup, including, Russia, Ukraine, Ireland, India and host Germany, in addition to the United States and Cuba.

The 21-year-old Coe, who was boxing in only his 25th match, his first on the International scene, stole the show and he was named Most Outstanding Boxer of the tournament. In the semifinals, Coe knocked out Matus Strnisko, of Slovakia, in the first round.

Coe respected but he wasn’t intimidated by his much more experienced opponent, 2016 Olympic gold medalist and four-time world champion La Cruz, who had one less fight in the World Boxing Series than Cue did during his entire amateur career.

“My first fight in the tournament was the hardest I’d had,” Coe explained. “I studied him (La Cruz) a lot and watched him fight in the semifinals (defeating three-time European champion Joseph Ward (Ireland), which was right after my semifinals fight. He (La Cruz) is very elusive and flashy, but he doesn’t like to get hit in the body. He moves his body, but he forgets about his head. I pulled him, on him, moving around with my footwork and shuffling. He threw a lazy jab and I hit him right on the chin with a right.”

Coe’s short, compact right-hand punch landed right on the button, dropping La Cruz a little less than two-minutes into round one. The Cuban beat the count, but the referee ruled that he was unable to continue. La Cruz was still “The Man” in the light heavyweight division and by knocking him out, Coe proved that he truly belongs with the elite, and that the No. 1-rated American is the fighter to beat in terms of qualifying for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team.

“I let everybody know that I’m here,” Coe added. “I still need to work on a lot of different things. I need to throw more combinations, keep by stamina up, and improve everything to be better. I’m more of a pure boxer, but I have strength and punching power. Coach (Billy) Walshdoesn’t change his fighters, he adds to what they have. The coaches put together a fight plan and I executed it.”

“Khalil’s performances in Germany were world class,” Team USA head coach Walsh said, “To be truly world class, we now have to repeat those performances regularly, and that’s where the challenge lies.”

On this year’s USA vs. Ireland Northeast Tour, Coe was 2-0 against his Irish counterparts in Boston and Springfield

Coe often got into fights in school, until his mother sent him to a local gym, and his first amateur bout was when he was 12. If he wasn’t boxing right now, the 6’ 1” Coe believes he would probably be playing college football, as a fullback or defensive end.

Close with his USA teammates, particularly Keyshawn Davis, Coe lives and trains with them in Colorado Springs. “We’re more than a team,” the Jersey City, New Jersey boxer concluded, “we’re like a family – guys, gals and coaches -- in Colorado Springs.

“I’m going to turn pro after the Olympics, one way or the other, God-willing, after I win a gold medal.”